Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre is currently following guidelines from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) following the announcement on the 18th of October 2022 that the entire United Kingdom is now under an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) following an increase in the number of cases of avian influenza in wild birds and on commercial premises. (for more information please see the APHA website)
This means that all bird keepers must implement strict biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the threat of avian influenza, regardless of whatever type or size.
Here at Feathers and Fur Falconry Centre we have a number of bio security procedures in place including foot mats with disinfectant at both the entrance and exit to the centre, each aviary had a fully covered roof so that poo from wild birds can not fall into the birds water and aviaries, F10 spray in aviaries and travel boxes, daily cleaning.
We however do ask any visitors to the centre to help us with the following : –
- Please do not wear the same shoes to the centre that you have worn around rivers, wetlands or out in the countryside without disinfecting them before attending any sessions.
- If you have chickens / ducks / geese at home, please do not wear the same foot wear that you would wear around your birds without disinfecting them before attending any sessions.
- Please do not bring us wild injured or sick birds, we do not have facilities to isolate wild birds from the birds we have at the centre. Please call us if you find a sick bird and we will recommend rescue centres and vets to take the birds too.
Please be aware this is VERY serious. Our collection of birds is not some random birds in a zoo, these are our family and friends. Bird flu is fatal to birds and with government protocol 1 case could see the whole of our collection being euthanised. We take the steps to help prevent infection very seriously, please help us by following the above steps.